Note Weavers CIC

🥁🥁BOOKING IS NOW OPEN! for Note Weavers' very first Connecting Threads Face to Face Gathering!
Happening in the centre of Manchester at Central Hall, it is an informal event for anyone who works musically with young children.
Join us from 9.30am for tea, coffee and pastries ('free from' treats will also be available), before we begin promptly at 10am with our Guest Speaker, Dr Karen Boardman and her presentation:
'The Rhythm of Reading: How Play and Music Transform Literacy'
Karen has been working in the field of early childhood education for 40+ years as a senior leader and more recently, as a researcher and book author over the last 10 years. Karen's research interests and publications are focused on working with babies, under-threes, literacy, early reading, play, leadership and research circles.
Karen is passionate about supporting the early childhood sector nationally and internationally as an advocate for babies, very young children, their families and communities. Karen has also been involved in all the sector wide support and non-statutory documents - Birth to Five Matters, Transitions Matter, Play Matters and is a strong advocate for the ECE sector as a member of many international organisations.
We are delighted that Karen will be joining us for this event.

Over the morning, there will also be the opportunity to meet and connect with others. Speaking to people who understand the joys and challenges of this type of work is a rare treat and we're really looking forward to doing just that!
The event will end with a Songshare. Please do bring along a favourite song or activity to share with the group if you wish, or simply get ideas for new activities to take home with you.

As this is our launch Face to Face event we are offering tickets at the astonishing, subsidised rate of just £5 each! Do come and join us we'd LOVE to see you there!

Tickets available at: 👇
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1995696046598?aff=oddtdtcreator

More about the venue here: https://www.centralhallmcr.org.uk/

Thank you to everyone who has already expressed interest in being part of our new online 'Connecting Threads - Sharing' offer. It's been great to read about the amazing work that people are doing, and we're pleased to be able to offer a platform for sharing and celebrating. From September these will be a monthly event and we can't wait to get started!

Our very first 'Sharing' session will be on Thursday 24th September, 7pm-8pm, when we will be hosting Emily Sharples.

Emily will speak about her experience of leading Singing Mamas groups and the effect this way of singing has on both mothers and their little ones. Emily is passionate about the mental health benefits of group singing for new mums and normalising community singing for all the family.
Come along and hear how simple group singing (sometimes in 3 parts!) can support wellbeing.

There will also be the opportunity for questions and discussion.

Tickets are available at the link below from just £3 (or optionally £5)👇
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/connecting-threads-sharing-singing-mamas-tickets-1994074839524

Find out more about Emily's work here:
singingmamas.lancashire
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088141757308

Today Sally-Anne was in Preston at Lancashire Archives as we begin a new part of our Sound Beginnings project. In this, we will be working collaboratively with Lancashire Libraries staff, to compose and create songs and musical activities using classic children's books as a starting point.
It was a great workshopping session, we worked on a variety of stories, and the group came up with many different activities: specially composed songs, games, opportunities for vocalisations and more. It was a joyful morning, even the ukulele was smiling!
The project continues after the holidays. Thank you to everyone who came along today, and we'll see you soon!

*BRAND NEW EVENT*
We are very, VERY excited for the launch of our brand new offer - Connecting Threads 'Face to Face'!
On 12th September we will be holding a 'gathering' at the Central Hall in Manchester. This is an informal event, providing the opportunity for people who work musically with young children, to get together in person, have a coffee, chat, share musical activities and hear from a speaker.
More information and booking details will be shared shortly but for now - put the date in your diary! We're looking forward to meeting up - face to face! ☕🍪🎶🙂

All are welcome at these events, and if you're in the North West please do come along and connect!

Throwback Thursday! We have just been looking through the wonderful photographs taken by Matthew Cooper at our conference with Amp-Music and Music in March and thought it would be nice to share them.
They are happy reminders of a great day of meeting friends old and new and coming together to think about and discuss our shared passion of music making with young children. All that as well as an absolutely stonking buffet!
Enjoy looking through! 📸

Photo credit: Matthew Cooper

Long post BUT it’s about exciting things!
We are currently revamping our online offers. We already have two established online series’; 'Connecting Threads – Discussion' events and CPD training. From September, we are going to launch* fanfare* ‘Connecting Threads – Sharing.’
And this is where you come in. ‘Connecting Threads - Sharing’ is a platform for EY music practitioners to share elements of their work that are particularly unique, interesting, different, successful - whatever it may be!
For instance, you may:
• have worked on a particular project that had unexpected outcomes
• deliver in an unusual setting
• be freelance and would like to share your success in how to attract and retain families
• regularly use technology in your work with young children.
• have ideas for connecting with families outside the session – online, social media etc…
These are just a few ideas, whatever it is, we want to hear from you. We envisage hosting one hour-long session each month from September and the format will be:
• Online Session
• 40 minutes of sharing from the presenter
• 20 minutes of questions and discussion
• A short, A4 sized document of information could be shared with attendees afterwards.
• Sessions will not be recorded.

This is an ideal opportunity to gain experience of preparing for and delivering a presentation in a friendly environment. There will also be time to reflect with us after the session. If you’re well used to presenting, this is also for you. We know that so much fabulous EY music work is going on in the UK and we want to offer a platform to come and tell people about it! A small fee will be paid to any presenter.

Submissions are open now and will close on the 31st July. We will be in touch with applicants in late August.
We particularly encourage submissions from practitioners in the North West of England.

Please complete the following form to be considered for one of the 26/27 slots:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hjvso7_cmEIToqk1jPJKy7I0bZbMf8y6OTvlWVfCUs0/edit

Looking forward to hearing from you!

We've had another busy week all around the North West and in all sorts of weathers! 🌧️☀️☁️
First, Vic gave a careers talk at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester to Year 12 students about Note Weavers and Early Years music making. It was great to be able to speak to young people about work opportunities in this area.
Next, Georgina, Vic and Sally-Anne presented workshops at Edge Hill University at their 'Improving life chances and making hope possible through education' conference. It's always great to have the opportunity to connect, listen and have big discussions!
Thursday was something completely different, as Sally-Anne was in Burnley Central library for a day of recording with colleagues from Lancashire Music Hub. More details to follow...Thank you to David at Burnley Library for his help in preparing the space for us, and for library staff for their help over the day. If you're ever in the Burnley area, it is well worth visiting the newly refurbished Stocks Massey music library. What an amazing resource it is. 🎶

Lancashire Libraries Lancashire County Council

When your mum helps you pack your car with 'resources' for the day.... 🧸 🦄

Such a special day! 🎶

This coming Tuesday (16th June), 7pm-8pm, Georgina will share some of her PhD research, translating evidence from arts‑based therapeutic practice into simple, music‑friendly strategies that early years practitioners can use to support stronger parent–infant relationships. There will also be the opportunity for discussion.
This is our final online Connecting Threads event before summer so come along and connect! Tickets at this link: 👇
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/enhancing-parentinfant-connections-through-the-arts-tickets-1983991740704